COOMEALLA Wentworth coach Liam Freeman wants his side to prove they can perform as well with the bat as they can with the ball.
Last year’s grand finalists lost the opening game of the new campaign to Mildura West after only being able to set them a target of 106, eventually losing by three wickets.
While there is plenty to be excited about in the bowling department, Freeman is hopeful the batsmen can capitalise on starts they make against Merbein South this round, with the Blues at home to the Saints at George Gordon Oval.
Darby McLean top-scored against West with 39 from 43 deliveries, which included six boundaries and a six, with the next best being opener Luke Cullinan with 18.
Freeman said his side simply didn’t have enough runs on the board.
“We had a couple of blokes make starts but couldn’t go on with it,” he said.
“It’s been a focus for a couple of years now but it just seems to be a trend for us that we need to continually work on. The weather played a bit of a part, but to be honest it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be.
“We just tried to keep the ball rolling.
“The early partnership had hurt us, we had a few expensive overs against them as well. If we had been able to break that early, we could have been in with more of a shout.
“We just really want to put a decent total on the board and show what we can do, and keep following up with the ball like we have been.”
Freeman (3/32) impressed with the ball, as did all-rounder Jay Turlan (3/21) in his first outing with his new club.
Add Bevan Wade and Justin Freeman, who were both in the top three wicket-takers last season, and Tanner Begg, Zac Hancock and youngster Tom Stokes, and there are plenty of options with the ball.
Merbein South was forced to withdraw its sides from the opening week of competition due to a COVID case, forcing a 40-over contest with Gol Gol.
Having been 4/17, the Saints will want more from their top order, although big hitter Hamim Miah impressed with 33.
Opening bat Robbie Roelofs claimed three wickets although the Saints couldn’t do much to stop a rampaging Shacaya Thomas from scoring a century.
Today’s game begins at George Gordon Oval at 1pm.
